UK Trade Minister Douglas Alexander arrived in Taiwan on Sunday. He aims to boost economic cooperation between the UK and Taiwan. Alexander’s visit will last two days, from June 29 to June 30. During this time, he will meet top Taiwanese officials. He plans to meet President Lai Ching-te and Vice Economics Minister Chiang Wen-jo. Together, they will explore ways to expand trade and investment ties. They will focus on improving economic cooperation.
In addition, Alexander will witness the signing of the Enhanced Trade Partnership Pillars agreement. Drafted in 2023, this deal targets three main areas. These include bilateral investment, trade in online goods and services, and energy policy. Taiwan’s envoy to the UK, Vincent Yao, and the UK’s representative in Taiwan, Ruth Bradley Jones, will sign the agreement. This pact will open new doors for businesses in both countries.
The Enhanced Trade Partnership aims to promote growth in important industries. Before his trip, Alexander emphasized the strong trade ties between the UK and Taiwan. He stated that trade reached record levels last year. However, he also stressed that both countries can deepen economic cooperation further.
Taiwan ranks as the UK’s 33rd largest trading partner. Trade between the two nations reached about NT$370 billion in 2024. This amount marked a 7.7% increase compared to 2023. The UK government calls Taiwan a “key market” in global trade. It wants to deepen economic cooperation to benefit both sides.
By focusing on digital trade and energy policy, the UK and Taiwan aim to build a strong partnership. Alexander’s visit marks a major step forward. It shows both countries’ commitment to expand economic cooperation. They hope to encourage investment and foster mutual growth. Overall, this visit highlights the growing importance of economic cooperation between the UK and Taiwan. It also signals a clear intention to strengthen ties for the future.
